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Faithfulness

Introduction

This hymn is a meditation on two texts, that of James 1: 17 (‘with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning’) and Lamentations 3: 23 (‘his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness’). It encourages us to think of God as utterly reliable and secure, but not as static. In the seasons on earth and in the skies there is always movement, but always reliability. So too with God’s response to us; it is his ever-faithful response to our ever-changing situation, bringing us pardon, peace and strength.

The author was a teacher and journalist before becoming a Methodist minister in Kentucky. His health was insufficient for the role, and he later worked as an insurance salesman. He wrote over a thousand hymns. In 1923 he sent this and other hymns to the composer. Runyan was an important composer of sacred music. At the age of twenty-one he entered the Methodist ministry, and worked as a pastor and then an evangelist. He also served on the editorial staff of the Moody Bible Institute that took this hymn as their unofficial anthem.

Details

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with thee; Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not, As thou hast been thou for ever wilt be. Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed thy hand hath provided— Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Summer and winter, and spring-time and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness To thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed thy hand hath provided— Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed thy hand hath provided— Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!